Conservation Management System Research Articles

Scaling of pores in 3D images of Latosols (Oxisols) with contrasting mineralogy under a conservation management system

The aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial and morphological configuration of the pore space in 3D images of Latosols with different mineralogy under a conservation tillage system in a coffee crop area. The visualisation and quantification of pore size distribution by data mining and spatial variability by semi-variogams were investigated in 3D images with 60-µm spatial resolution generated by X-ray CT scan (EVS/GE MS8x-130) in soil core samples collected at different depths of a kaolinitic Red-Yellow Latosol (RYL) and a gibbsitic Red Latosol (RL) from Brazil. Greater spatial variability occurred in the horizontal direction of the 3D image, a novel finding in this area of research. The pores detected were different between the Latosols studied, mainly at 0.20–0.34 m depth. The largest number (>4000) and volume (±30 mm3) of pores was found in the RL. The soil classes differed in 3D pore characteristics, and this aspect may be important in the characterisation of causes of pore variability. Sphericity was similar for both soils, with greater emphasis on pore classes with a diameter <0.4 mm, mainly at the 0.20–0.34 m depth. A higher percentage of spheroid pores occurred in RL (±25%), whereas the platy pores were more abundant in RYL (>15%).

Bimodal pore distribution on soils under conservation management system for coffee crop

This study aims at detailing bimodal pore distribution by means of water retention curve in an oxidic-gibbsitic Latosol and in a kaolinitic cambisol Latossol under conservation management system of coffee crop. Samples were collected at depths of 20; 40; 80; 120 and 160 cm on coffee trees rows and between rows under oxidic-gibbsitic Latosol (LVd) and kaolinitic cambisol Latossol (LVAd). Water retention curve was determined at matrix potentials (Ψm) -1; -2; -4; -6; -10 kPa obtained from the suction unit; the Ψm of -33; -100; -500; -1,500 kPa were obtained by the Richards extractor, and WP4-T psychrometer was used to determine Ψm -1,500 to -300,000 kPa. The water retention data were adjusted to the double van Genuchten model by nonlinear model procedures of the R 2.12.1 software. Was estimated the model parameter and inflection point slope. The system promoted changes in soil structure and water retention for the conditions evaluated, and both showed bimodal pores distribution, which were stronger in LVd. There was a strong influence of mineralogy gibbsitic in the water retention more negative than Ψm -1500 kPa, reflected in the values of the residual water content.

The role of outreach policies in the possibility of conservation management system to maintain the heritage environments in Yemen

The importance of this tool is showing the role of media edification policies and mechanisms for developing cultural awareness of architectural heritage. Every society has its culture and originality that must be enhanced and developed by spreading its cultural, intellectual, and urban products of all times; as well as portraying positive behavioral approaches that help enhance the principle of participation for maintaining heritage environments and the national identity. As the current conservation authorities in several developing countries lack a clear vision by which the local community cultural awareness, of the heritage environments and their conservation processes, may be increased; hence came the idea of this research to address the important media and edification policies that may be executed by the conservation administration in cooperation with people of the society. The aim of the research is to establish media and edification polices that aid in raising the community's heritage awareness within managing universal conservation processes of heritage environments, in order to create more interest by the local and external community members of the importance of maintaining heritage environments, and convey such interest actively to the next generations. Such policies would help create new initiatives and, in the same time, achieve direct social and economic benefits to the community. For the purpose of achieving the aim, the research will adopt the analytical and theoretical methodologies. In the first part, the research will focus on introducing concepts related to conservation management and different conservation policies; including media edification policies. The second part focuses on studying and analyzing the requirements of media edification in heritage environments, determining the potentials and methods of such policies, and specifying the targeted categories and their interaction with the conservation administration in managing conservation. The research concluded that media edification policies are important for helping conservation administrations carry out their different roles within heritage environments. Also, the integrated execution of edification policies helps create community partnerships between society members for conserving their heritage environments, as well as creating partnerships between society members and architectural conservation administrations. Hence, such edification processes need to be organized and activated regularly in all heritage environments. All society members must be sufficiently enlightened, regardless of their stature, to be engaged in the conservation processes and assume the moral, ethical, and practical responsibilities for the local urban heritage.

Dry spell analysis for effective water management planning

Knowing the dry and wet periods with rainy seasons is essential for successful water management planning in any particular area. With this view, this study analyzed the thirty years (1975-2004) monthly rainfall data of Udumalpet station located in Parambikulam Aliyar sub basin (Tamilnadu) on annual, seasonal and monthly basis for planning a suitable water conservation management system. Sixty two per cent of the total rainfall is received from North East Monsoon and seventeen per cent from South-West Monsoon. In the study period, four years were found to be wet, four years were found to be dry and the remaining twenty two years were found to be normal years. The analysis showed that the annual and seasonal rainfall data did not clearly indicate the problem of drought in the region; whereas the monthly rainfall data indicated serious concerns to deal with drought particularly during the winter and summer months. It also revealed that the winter months were the most susceptible to severe drought conditions. Out of 30 years of study, January and February were found to be the dry months which normally facilitate for the good harvest of the kharif sown long duration crops. There is a need to adopt adequate moisture conservation measures like mulching etc. to mitigate the effect of drought spells during critical periods of crop growth, and to construct water harvesting ponds/tanks for application of pre-sowing irrigation to Rabi (winter) crops, and supplemental irrigation during periods of water scarcity.

Traditional biodiversity conservation and natural resource management system of some tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, India

India is one of the 17 mega biodiversity countries in the world having two hotspots- the Western Ghats and the Eastern Himalayas, based on species rarity and endemism. Arunachal Pradesh state of India in the Eastern Himalaya is among 200 globally important eco-regions. The state is home to 26 major tribes and about 110 ethnic groups. The majority of the mountainous population of Arunachal Pradesh depends upon agricultural and forest resources for their livelihood, which these communities sustain with their rich and varied traditional ecological knowledge. The issue of recognising and acknowledging the importance of traditional knowledge, creativity and innovativeness of the grassroot level people in biodiversity conservation has been debated for a long time. Some unique ways of utilising traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation by the local tribes have been discussed in the article.

In Pursuit of Knowledge: Addressing Barriers to Effective Conservation Evaluation

Evaluation, the process of assessing the effectiveness of programs and activities, has gained increasing attention in the conservation sector as programs seek to account for investments, measure their impacts, and adapt interventions to improve future outcomes. We conducted a country-wide evaluation of terrestrial-based conservation programs in Samoa. Though rarely applied, the benefit of evaluating multiple projects at once is that it highlights factors which are persistent and influential across the entire conservation sector. We found mixed success in achieving goals among conservation programs; yet this result is surrounded by uncertainty because of the quality of existing evidence on project outcomes. We explore the role of different components of the conservation management system, i.e., context, planning, inputs, processes, and outputs, in facilitating and/or constraining collection of data on project outcomes, and thereby assessment of whether projects were successful. Our study identified a number of direct and indirect barriers that affected the capacity of projects to carry out informative evaluations and generate knowledge on conservation progress in Samoa. These attributes and mechanisms include: the availability and management of data, design and planning of projects, and systems for reporting among donors and proponents. To overcome these barriers to evaluation, we believe that a shift in institutional approaches to reporting outcomes is needed, from a reflective way of thinking to a more prospective outlook.

Environmental and visual impact analysis of viticulture and olive tree cultivation in the province of Siena (Italy)

This study aimed at setting up a comprehensive approach on viticultural and olive tree cultivation environmental impact, through soil and landscape change analysis at the years 1965, 1990, 1994 and 2000, both at the catchment and province scales. The study area was the province of Siena, in central Italy. Following a DPSIR approach, the State indicators checked the Impact of agricultural policies (Drivers), which have increased the Pressure of specialized crops, and suggested Response actions. The indicators selected for the catchment scale stressed the consequences of land use change on soil quality, capability and suitability. They were: (1) land use and land cover; (2) soil and water conservation management system, (3) soil hydrological group, (4) land capability; (5) land suitability for wine grape production. At the province level, four original indicators highlighted at the reconnaissance scale the impact of the two crops on soil conservation and management – (6) soil erosion risk, (7) soil management – as well as on visual attractiveness of landscape – (8) slope length of vineyards, (9) crop saturation of the landscape unit and its variation in time. The results showed that, at the catchment level, the twenty-fold increase in specialized viticulture and olive tree cultivation, along with the generalised adoption of the “up and down slope” soil and water conservation system, caused the impairment of soil hydrological group, land capability and suitability for growing quality wine. At the province level, soil erosion risk and soil management difficulty almost doubled in the transition from the traditional mixed to the new specialized tree cultivation. The areas traditionally producing wine protected by appellation of origin (DOCG) determined the distribution of land use and all the other impact indicators. Slope length of vineyards showed that the enlargement of the surface covered by vines preferentially affected lands close to already established DOCG farms. DOCG areas resulted somewhat saturated by vineyards, but not by olive tree groves. The response should foresee the following actions: (i) when planting new olive groves and vineyards, measures should be taken to avoid the complete removal of the subsurface soil B horizon; (ii) new plantations should maintain slope degree of less than 21% in any part of the field; (iii) the shape of new plantations should conform to slope morphology, thus avoiding the creation of long, wide and uniform slopes. The aim should be to limit the length of the fields to less than 150–300 m and to adopt or preserve the contour management systems.

Adubação verde e sistemas de manejo do solo na produtividade do algodoeiro

A adoção de sistemas de manejo conservacionistas e a sucessão de culturas com adubos verdes são práticas que visam preservar a qualidade do solo e do ambiente, sem prescindir da obtenção de produtividade elevada das culturas de interesse econômico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de sistemas de manejo do solo e adubos verdes na produtividade do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L.). O experimento foi realizado num Latossolo Vermelho distrófico, originalmente sob vegetação de Cerrado. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, em esquema de parcela subdividida e quatro repetições. Nas parcelas, utilizaram-se quatro adubos verdes: mucuna-preta, guandu, crotalária e milheto, e área de pousio (vegetação espontânea). Nas subparcelas foram adotados dois sistemas de manejo do solo: plantio direto e preparo convencional (uma gradagem pesada + duas gradagens leves). Os sistemas de manejo do solo não interferiram na produtividade do algodoeiro. O algodoeiro apresentou produtividade semelhante quando cultivado em sucessão a diferentes espécies de adubos verdes, no sistema de plantio direto e convencional de preparo do solo.

Propriedades físicas de um Cambissolo Húmico afetadas pelo tipo de manejo do solo

A degradação das propriedades físicas do solo é um dos principais processos responsáveis pelo aumento da erosão hídrica. O preparo convencional predispõe o solo a este processo, já que é executado com intenso revolvimento mecânico do solo. A semeadura direta, por outro lado, é um sistema de manejo conservacionista, pois a ausência de preparo mantém os resíduos vegetais e aumenta o teor de matéria orgânica na superfície, apesar de aumentar a densidade e diminuir a porosidade superficial do solo. O trabalho foi desenvolvido num CAMBISSOLO HÚMICO alumínico, em Lages- SC, de maio de 1995 a novembro de 1999, com o objetivo de avaliar as modificações em algumas propriedades físicas do solo afetadas pelo manejo. Os tratamentos foram, preparo convencional executado com uma aração+duas gradagens (PCO) e semeadura direta (SDI), ambos com quatro repetições, além de um tratamento de campo nativo pastejado (CNP), com duas repetições. Na SDI foram cultivadas ervilhaca e milho em sucessão e, no PCO, adotou-se a sucessão milho seguido de pousio. Foram avaliadas a resistência do solo ao penetrômetro e diâmetro médio ponderado de agregados (DMP), ambos nas profundidades de 0-2,5; 2,5-5,0; 5,0-10,0 e 10,0-15,0 cm, e a taxa de infiltração de água no solo. O tipo de manejo não afetou o DMP na camada de 0-2,5 cm; nas demais camadas, no entanto, o CNP e SDI apresentaram valores maiores do que o PCO, não diferindo entre si. A resistência do solo ao penetrômetro foi maior na SDI do que nos demais tratamentos, na camada de 0-2,5 cm. A taxa de infiltração de água no solo, tanto inicial quanto final, foi maior no PCO do que nos demais tratamentos.

Propriedades físicas e químicas e produtividade de milho afetadas pelo manejo do solo com tração animal, numa terra bruna estruturada

A degradação física do solo é um dos principais processos responsáveis pelo aumento da erosão hídrica. Os preparos convencionais normalmente são aceleradores desse processo, enquanto a semeadura direta apresenta-se como um sistema de manejo conservacionista, pois mantém os resíduos culturais na superfície e preserva a matéria orgânica do solo. Contudo, a semeadura direta pode também aumentar a densidade e diminuir a porosidade total na superfície do solo. O trabalho foi desenvolvido numa Terra Bruna estruturada, no município de Lebon Régis - SC, no perí odo de junho de 1995 a maio de 1999. Os tratamentos de preparo do solo, preparo convencional com uma aração com arado "fuçador" de tração de animal + uma gradagem com tração mecânica e semeadura direta com semeadora "saraquá", foram executados em quatro repetições. No início, a área experimental foi cultivada com aveia e, a partir do segundo cultivo, milho e aveia em semeadura direta e milho e pousio no preparo convencional, ambos em sucessão. Em maio de 1999, foram avaliadas a densidade do solo, macroporosidade, microporosidade, porosidade total, fósforo extraível, potássio trocável e carbono orgânico nas camadas de 0-2,5; 2,5-5,0; 5,0-10,0 e 10,0-15,0cm de profundidade. A densidade do solo, macroporosidade e microporosidade no solo sob semeadura direta foram semelhantes aos valores do solo sob preparo convencional, em todas as profundidades. O carbono orgânico, fósforo extraível e potássio trocável apresentaram maiores valores na semeadura direta do que no preparo convencional, na camada de 0-5,0cm.

Regeneration patterns in a Central European dry heathland: effects of burning, sod-cutting and cutting

Vegetation development in dry heathlands was studied during a six-year period following experimental burning, sod-cutting and cutting in a continental area in the southern part of the Czech Republic (Podyji National Park). Calluna vulgaris-dominated heathlands in the area were composed of uneven-aged stands and had been unmanaged for several decades. The aim of the study was testing the applicability of Western European management systems to nature conservation in a continental area. Species composition was recorded in 8 permanent plots using 25 x 25 cm grids, and vegetation recovery following different treatments was analysed. Calluna recovered successfully after burning. Burning dense heathlands, which contained a large amount of woody fuel, resulted in a medium-intensity fire that destroyed moss mats and litter and exposed patches of bare ground to facilitate Calluna regeneration by seed, in addition to vegetative regrowth. On the contrary, in open heathlands with patches of herbaceous vegetation, low-intensity fires which failed to expose mineral soil were more typical. Almost all Calluna regeneration was vegetative in this case, and regrowth was slower. Heathland recovery after sod-cutting to mineral soil depended on whether or not Calluna seed germination occurred in the plot. With germination, the community developed towards heathland; without towards grassland. Cutting promoted a striking increase in grass cover, which was followed by the slow recovery of Calluna. The experiments suggest that of these management systems, burning is perhaps the most appropriate in the study area. A nature conservation management system is proposed, based on sheep grazing combined with rotational burning of restricted patches.

Study on the application of species, conservation management system

Study on the application of species, conservation management system

Soil Conservation Management Systems Under Uncertainty

AbstractSuccess of a soil conservation program depends on the number of acres on which recommended practices are implemented. If risk considerations are introduced in formulating plans to control soil loss, whether individuals will implement the desired management system(s) to achieve conservation objectives established for the region is an unclear factor. This paper illustrates how expected utility maximization and safety‐first decision criteria influence the selection of a soil conservation management system under uncertainty.